John Malkovich makes his directorial debut in this 2002 adaptation of Nicholas Shakespeare's political thriller, loosely based on Peru's Shining Path guerrilla movement. Javier Bardem plays Agustín Rejas, a lawyer-turned-police detective on the trail of the brutal terrorist leader Ezequiel (Abel Folk), who is attempting to destabilize an unnamed Latin American nation. But whenever Rejas gets close, corrupt officials within the police department and government conspire to block Ezequiel's capture. The stakes escalate when Rejas falls in love with his daughter's ballet teacher (Laura Morante), and he must choose between his heart, his country, and his own survival. Alberto Iglesias's evocative score won Best Soundtrack honors at the Venice Film Festival.